Grant: Project Grant

High blood pressure affects men and women differently. Moreover, high blood pressure can lead to small vessel disease (SVD)-a condition where the tiny vessels branching from larger blood vessels are damaged. This damage may reduce blood flow to vital organs like the heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes, leading to immediate and long-term health problems. Although guidelines recommend screening for organ damage from high blood pressure, research on how different organs are specifically affected is limited. This knowledge gap makes it difficult to understand why some people develop multiple organ damage while others do not. Most studies have examined the effects of high blood pressure on each organ separately, without considering its simultaneous impact on multiple organs. Additionally, the reasons for the different effects of hypertension on heart, brain, kidney, and retinal function in men and women remain unclear. Our project aims to bridge this gap by examining the risks of multi-organ damage-including damage to the heart, brain, kidneys, and retina-in both men and women due to high blood pressure. We will also investigate whether the relationship between organ damage from SVD and hypertension is influenced by gender-related social determinants of health that affect men and women differently, such as roles and relations. To achieve this, we will use data from the UK Biobank. We will include 4073 women and 5525 men with high blood pressure. We will compare the patterns of health of the heart, brain, kidneys, and retina damage in men and women with high blood pressure, while also considering clinical and gender-related factors. The use of this database provides a unique opportunity to assess these factors. The findings will be critical for improving early management of high blood pressure by considering the extent of organ damage. This could lead to more tailored and effective prevention and treatment, ultimately enhancing the well-being of individuals with hypertension.